A $30 million gift from the foundation started by the co-founder of Farmers Insurance will go toward building a residence hall for up to 600 freshman honor students, the university announced recently. “USC’s residential colleges provide supportive communities and contribute immensely to students’ academic and personal development,” said Ainsley Carry, vice provost for student affairs. The donation comes from the Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation, chaired by USC Trustee Kathleen Leavey McCarthy, and the money will help build the Thomas and Dorothy Leavy Foundation Honors Hall at USC Village, which is set to open in 2017.

The village, which will include four other residential halls, will add about 2,700 beds to student housing. McCarthy and the Leavey Foun­dation, which has contributed to various scholarships over the years, also provided gifts that helped build the Leavey Library and McCarthy Quad.